Records

Atlas stood glaring at Orion in the very early hours of the morning as the other cheekily grinned. They were standing in a deserted kitchen of Atlas's palace, Orion preparing some tea. Orion looked awful, as though he hadn't slept in days. And when he did, it looked as though he'd cried himself to sleep. Which wasn't far off the truth at all. Atlas didn't particularly look any better either. The bags under his eyes signified his insomnia and the hours he spent drinking himself to sleep whilst he waited for Orion's response to his message. Sana had avoided completely him since they made love, even going as far as to sleep in a guest bedroom. So, he'd either laid awake at night in their bed craving her presence, engulfing himself in her scent, and seriously reconsidering his drastic decision to 'change wives', or spending the twilight hours with the maiden he was set on marrying.

"Do not give me that evil look, cousin. Have some tea," Orion said as he poured into two cups.

"Couldn't you have waited until dawn passed at the very least?" Atlas snapped.

"If this will work, we must go at a time where no one will notice us. Your vault always seems to have people watching over it." Orion took a sip of the steaming morning beverage.

Atlas groaned slightly as he leaned over the center counter, sipping his tea as well. Orion hadn't yet told him of his elaborate plan, but something from the Vault of Records was needed. And he had an idea of what it could be.

"Tell me, Orion. Are we going to steal my marriage certificate?" Atlas asked.

Orion gave a quick glance as he remained silent. He had worked two weeks perfecting his plan, all the nooks and cranes of it, gathering what was necessary. The idea had always been there, he'd pondered it for quite some time, refining it in his fiery mind. But now. he was serious about it. There would be too much suspicion if Atlas simply went to the vault and took his marriage certificate in the eyes of spectators. The plan would work only the way Orion prepared it too.

"Like I said, no one must know. Even if you told the vault's keepers to not say anything to anyone, your father does have spies who could relay the information to him. The real person we are fooling in this regard is him," Orion replied with a stern look directed into Atlas's eyes.

Atlas understood the implication of his cousin's words. If his father caught them red-handed of their actions, it would render them null and void.

"You still haven't told me everything," Atlas pushed.

"Finish your tea. I'll tell you along the way."

They stealthily left the palace, evading the guards and servants alike. They had changed their clothes into those of commoners, blending in with the crowd as they messed up their hair to cover their faces. Whoever did see them managed only a small glimpse before going about their day without recognizing the king of Aziri and the prince of the neighboring kingdom, Csilia.

"I cannot believe I let you talk me into wearing these clothes!" Atlas complained in a whisper.

 "Are you that arrogant you forget these are the clothes your people wear everyday?" Orion scolded back in a whisper as well.

They were backed against a wall of the vault, the entrance being just around the corner.

"I should raise their salaries so they can buy more tasteful clothing," Atlas mumbled as he stole a quick glimpse at the guards.

Orion rolled his eyes. They were waiting for an opening so they could rush in without being seen. Just on cue, a snappy sound reached their ears, grabbing the attention of the guards. The guards exchanged surprise glances, and deciding that two of them go investigate the sound. The remaining two guards stood unmoving from their positions for a few minutes before yelps in the distance stunned them.

"What-" one began just as another shout for help called to them.

The distressed voice sounded like their colleague. They looked fairly unsure of themselves, debating whether to find out what was happening or to stay at their posts.

"HELP!" another voice yelled in the distance, it being of their other colleague.

Whatever trouble they were in was no joke if they both required assistance. They shared a small helpless look before nodding and quickly taking off in the direction of the shouts. With the entrance cleared, Orion and Atlas rushed to enter, leaving no clues behind.

"Your men are probably rookies to leave their post completely unattended like this," Orion mocked as they moved with ease.

"I will have it looked into," Atlas absent-mindedly murmured as he scanned the room.

The vault was an enormous building filled with scrolls, files, certificates, decrees, treaties and more. Everything imperative to the kingdom was recorded and kept in the vault. Which is why Atlas and Orion had to surpass about 30 guards just to get to the entrance, and Atlas being familiar with his kingdom's important places was a great help in dodging the guards. The only thing that wasn't in the vault were military strategies and records of their warriors.

"Well, where is it?" Orion asked him.

Atlas led him down multiple isles until finally stopping at one with many file cabinets. He moved the ladder to a specific place as though instinct was guiding him, stopping in front of one with the label 'KING AND QUEEN'S PERSONAL AFFAIRS'. Atlas stretched out his hand to open it when he halted, reluctance momentarily paralyzing him. As Orion saw that, he couldn't help the small smile that made its way onto his face. Atlas felt his hand withdraw itself a slight amount before he lightly shook his head as though to clear his thoughts. He steeled his resolve, not allowing the uncertainty in his heart to overpower him, and forced himself to pry the cabinet open. He flicked through the papers before coming upon the certificate they had come there for. He took it out and stared at it.

"You hesitate?" Orion couldn't stop himself from asking.

His plan involved a lot of tears as he had broken down many times the past two days. He wasn't happy nor proud of what he was about to do. But he was tired of watching who had come to be his little sister suffer daily at the hands of his cousin. Sana's heart was always at Atlas's mercy, it was time she found someone else to give it to. Orion was more than willing to free Sana from her heartache, even if it meant he had to betray her. He had thought of not going through with it, but it always at the back of his mind whenever she'd break down in his arms. And now, he was going to release her from Atlas.

Atlas didn't answer Orion. How could he? He was hesitant, he knew what had to be done needed quickness and efficiency. Orion had the things needed to alter the document, and time was running out. The guards would return, keepers of the vault were waking up and making their way down to do their jobs. He was wasting time staring at the certificate that legally cemented his marriage with Sana.

"Atlas. It's now or never. We're running out of time." Orion gently pushed, making mental calculations of how soon the guards would return.

Atlas gulped harshly, tears gathering at the corners of his eyes. He couldn't help but wonder if his mistress was truly worth giving up his loving and faithful wife. With a heart full of despair, he turned to Orion.